(A customer is about to buy an M-rated game, which can only be purchased by people over the age of 17. My store is really strict about checking ID.)

Me: “And may I see some ID, please?”

Customer: “Why? What for?”

Me: “Because this is an M-rated game, and I am required to ask for ID.”

Customer: “Buddy, I’m 31, and it shows. You don’t need to see my ID.”

Me: “Sorry, sir, but I do need to see your ID. Otherwise, I risk my job and the store risks a fine.”

Customer: “Are you kidding me? Normally, when people ask me for ID, it’s a compliment, but coming from you, you just sound like a bureaucratic snot! Don’t waste my time, and just sell me the d*** game!”

(Another customer standing behind him taps him on the shoulder.)

Customer #2: “Hey, you said you’re 31, right?”

Customer: “Yeah! And this little punk is giving me a hard time about it!”

Customer #2: “How old is your kid? You may be 31, but you seem a little too young to be the father of a 17-year old, which this game is intended for.”

Customer: “What are you talking about? I don’t have any kids. This game is for me!”

Customer #2:*incredulously* “You’re 31 and still play video games?!”

(The 31-year old customer turns red and leaves the store in a huff. Since he’s gone, I go on to serve the next customer.)

Customer #2: “I’m actually older than he is and I play games, too. Since he was adamant about not showing his ID, I figured he had insecurities. I thought it would be fun to mess with him a little, and boy was I right!”

(I call voicemail from his handset and the automatic lady runs through three or four blank voice messages. They’re the kind one gets if the called reaches the voice mail system and then hangs up before leaving a message.)

Me: “All right, sir, it seems people are getting to the voicemail and then just not leaving you a message.”

(I call his phone from my own, let it go to voicemail, then record a quick test message and hang up. Sure enough, when I check the voicemail on his phone, I’m there clear as day, with the full message I left.)

Me: “Sounds like it’s working fine, sir. Perhaps he just hung up too soon?”

Customer: “No, I know him. He’s not that thick. I know it’s got to be your service!”

(After about a half hour of testing the service with coworker’s phones calling his, some on other networks, the problem fails to come up again. We all manage to leave messages without fault.)

Me: “Sorry, sir, but I think your friend’s phone or service has to be the issue here, because your voicemail is working fine.”